Drug & supplement interaction

Coleus + Sacubitril, Valsartan

Sacubitril, Valsartan brand name: Entresto.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Sacubitril, Valsartan falls into 2 drug categories that Coleus can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, combining coleus with antihypertensive drugs might cause additive blood pressure lowering effects and increase the risk of hypotension.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Coleus and Sacubitril, Valsartan

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Coleus interacts with whole categories of medication. Sacubitril, Valsartan falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Coleus in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Sacubitril, Valsartan

Sacubitril, Valsartan falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Coleus interacts with.

Theoretically, combining coleus with antihypertensive drugs might cause additive blood pressure lowering effects and increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research shows that forskolin, a constituent of coleus, may lower blood pressure.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to keep in mind: Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) already lowers your blood pressure as part of how it helps your heart. Coleus contains forskolin, which in animal studies seems to relax blood vessels and nudge blood pressure down too. So stacking the two could add up and push your pressure lower than you want.

If that happens, you might feel dizzy, lightheaded, tired, or unsteady when you stand up. I want to be honest, though: this concern is mostly theoretical and based on lab and animal research, not strong human data. Coleus isn't activated by your liver into this effect, so the direction is simply additive. Still, since heart failure and blood pressure are serious business, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding Coleus.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Baumann G, Felix S, Sattelberger U, Klein G. Cardiovascular effects of forskolin (HL-362) in patients with idiopathic congestiv cardiomyopathy. A comparative study with dobutamine and sodium nitroprusside. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1990;16:93-100.
  2. Kramer W, Thormann J, Kindler M, Schlepper M. Effects of forskolin on left ventricular function in dilated cardiomyopathy. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37:364-7.
  3. Schlepper, M., Thormann, J., and Mitrovic, V. Cardiovascular effects of forskolin and phosphodiesterase-III inhibitors. Basic Res Cardiol 1989;84 Suppl 1:197-212. PubMed
  4. Lindner, E., Dohadwalla, A. N., and Bhattacharya, B. K. Positive inotropic and blood pressure lowering activity of a diterpene derivative isolated from Coleus forskohli: Forskolin. Arzneimittelforschung 1978;28(2):284-289.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Sacubitril, Valsartan also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, taking coleus may affect drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 and increase the risk of adverse effects or reduce the effectiveness.
Research on the effect of coleus on CYP2C9 is conflicting. Some animal research shows that coleus extract can induce CYP2C9, while in vitro research shows that coleus can inhibit CYP2C9. Until more is known, advise patients that taking coleus might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the honest picture with Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) and Coleus. The valsartan part is handled in part by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9, and Coleus might tweak that enzyme. The catch is that the science points in two directions. Some animal data suggests Coleus speeds the enzyme up (which could lower valsartan levels and weaken its blood pressure and heart-protective effect), while lab studies suggest it slows the enzyme down (which could raise levels and lead to more dizziness, low blood pressure, or rising potassium).

This is all theoretical and based only on lab and animal work, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since Coleus itself can lower blood pressure and Entresto is an important heart medicine, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yokotani K, Chiba T, Sato Y, et al. Hepatic cytochrome P450 mediates interaction between warfarin and Coleus forskohlii extract in vivo and in vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012;64(12):1793-801.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Coleus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Coleus has 29 major, 887 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Sacubitril, Valsartan one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 29 Moderate 887 No known interaction 1,914 (incl. Sacubitril, Valsartan)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Coleus

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Coleus. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sacubitril, Valsartan

This page covers Coleus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sacubitril, Valsartan page lists 249 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Lithium (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 7 major · 206 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sacubitril, Valsartan page

“Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) is a heart failure medicine, and heart failure patients tend to be heavy supplement users, reaching for fish oil, potassium, and herbal blood-pressure remedies. That instinct carries real risk here.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sacubitril, Valsartan interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Coleus as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 803 real supplement products containing Coleus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Coleus. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Sacubitril, Valsartan too, on top of Coleus — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Coleus and Sacubitril, Valsartan Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Coleus
Top 25%

#201 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Sacubitril, Valsartan
Top 10%

#245 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Coleus

What is Coleus?

Coleus
  • Weight management
  • Asthma and breathing
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart conditions
  • Glaucoma (eye pressure)
  • Exercise and body composition

Coleus is a plant from the mint family whose root contains a compound called forskolin, often marketed for weight loss, asthma, and heart health. While early lab and small human studies are interesting, solid proof that Coleus supplements help any of these conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have heart problems or low blood pressure.

Read the full Coleus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valsartan and Sacubitril

What Is Valsartan and Sacubitril Used For?

Brand name: Entresto

Valsartan and sacubitril is used for heart failure. In adults with chronic heart failure, it lowers the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure. Benefits are most clearly seen in people whose heart pumps less blood than normal (a below-normal left ventricular ejection fraction, or LVEF).

It is also used to treat symptomatic heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (the main pumping chamber not squeezing well) in children aged one year and older. This use is listed for Entresto and for the sacubitril and valsartan tablet products.

See full Valsartan and Sacubitril drug information Sacubitril And Valsartan NDC codes and packages
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Coleus

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Coleus — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

29Major
887Moderate
0Minor
1,913No known interaction
29 Major 887 Moderate 1,913 No interaction
Major

29 interactions

Moderate

887 interactions

Showing 60 of 887 moderate interactions — see all 887 on the Coleus page.

No interaction 1,913 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Coleus against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,913 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Coleus list.

See the full Coleus interactions page
See every supplement checked against Sacubitril, Valsartan, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Coleus monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Sacubitril, Valsartan supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Sacubitril, Valsartan, ranked by severity Valsartan and Sacubitril drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Sacubitril And Valsartan NDC codes and packages › Every package, labeler and price in the FDA directory Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Coleus and Sacubitril, Valsartan Together: Common Questions

Can you take Coleus with Sacubitril, Valsartan?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Coleus and Sacubitril, Valsartan?
Sacubitril, Valsartan belongs to more than one drug category, and Coleus interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Coleus and Sacubitril, Valsartan interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Sacubitril, Valsartan and Coleus?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.